Week 4 was all about putting in the hours to complete the painting I had been commissioned to paint for The American Church in Paris. Most of my week was received working in the studio alone, exploring the wilderness within, as I hand stitched fragments from 3 paintings I created during my time here.

However, I was intentional about having hours I experienced outside of the studio to connect with people in the community, listen to live music at local cafes + buy fresh flowers. I also got to share a few good meals with new + old friends, dream + imagine. I made my way to the Picasso Museum to engage the work of Pablo Picasso. And, I was even interviewed on the ACP radio show about my work/time in Paris.

I'd love to promise myself that when I get home my days will mirror the rhythms of my days the past couple of weeks, but I'm not sure how the pace + work life balance I've embraced here will get to follow me back to Houston. What I do know is something happened to me here-- both as an artist + a human.

I have one more week of my artistic sojourn in Europe, and will be making my way to Basel, Switzerland to explore a country I've never been to, see the exhibits of Sam Gilliam + Theaster Gates at Kuntsmuseum Basel, as well as get some rest + reflect before I board a plane at the end of the week bound for home.

I look forward to the photos I will create there, but for now here are some of the highlights from my time in Paris last week.

Week 3 was all about practicing presence, vulnerability + finally feeling a bit less like a "tourist."

I found myself on the metro more + navigating my way around without my Google Maps. I had early studio mornings, diving fully into the creative process of birthing this new work, so that I could truly be present to evening walks, time around the table, enjoying the gift that is jazz + picnics along the Seine River with friends + so many others.

Paris makes me want to be a better artist in the studio, yes-- but more than that, I'm finding myself longing to create a healthier work/life rhythm when I get back to Houston. In a sense, Paris makes me want to be a better artist of my days as well.

Here are just a few of the moments of encountering beauty I allowed myself to savor this week.